Call for Speakers: Creative Ireland / Craft Works 4.0 - Creative Horizons Series: Turning Passion into Prosperity – Closing Date: 4^th April 2025

Carlow County Council invites dynamic speakers to contribute to the Creative Horizons Series: Turning Passion into Prosperity. This engaging coffee talk series aims to empower creative entrepreneurs by fostering economic and employment opportunities within the culture and creativity sector. The series will commence in June and be completed by end October 2025.

We are seeking experts, industry leaders, and successful creative professionals to share insights, practical strategies, and inspiring case studies across the following themes:

1. Crafting Success: Monetizing Your Creative Skills

Focus: Transforming crafts, art, and design into sustainable income streams.

Ideal Speakers: Creative entrepreneurs, funding and grant specialists, collaboration facilitators.

Key Topics:

• Success stories of local and international creatives.
• Available funding, grants, and mentorship programs.
• Collaborations between creatives and tourism, education, and local businesses.

2. The Business of Creativity: Essential Tools for Growth

Focus: Providing practical tools to manage and scale creative enterprises.

Ideal Speakers: Business strategists, financial advisors, digital marketing experts.

Key Topics:

• Business planning, financial management, and marketing strategies.
• Digital tools for market outreach (Etsy, Shopify, social media platforms).
• Leveraging technology to optimise creative workflows.

3. Cultural Capital: Tapping into Local Identity for Global Appeal

Focus: Using local heritage and culture to create unique, marketable products.

Ideal Speakers: Cultural entrepreneurs, heritage experts, branding specialists.

Key Topics:

• Case studies of successful cultural storytelling.
• Integrating heritage into creative practices.
• Techniques for identifying and narrating unique cultural elements.

4. Sustainable Creativity: Balancing Passion and Planet

Focus: Embedding sustainability into creative enterprises.

Ideal Speakers: Eco-conscious designers, sustainability consultants, environmental advocates.

Key Topics:

• Sustainable material sourcing and eco-friendly business models.
• Best practices for reducing environmental impact.
• Resources and certifications for sustainable practices.

5. Creative Networking: Building Bridges in the Sector

Focus: Fostering collaboration within and beyond the creative sector.

Ideal Speakers: Industry connectors, cross-sector collaboration experts, community builders.

Key Topics:

• Connecting creatives with potential partners.
• Highlighting successful cross-sector partnerships.
• Facilitated networking sessions.

6. The Future of Work: Creativity in the Digital Economy

Focus: Preparing creatives for the evolving digital landscape.

Ideal Speakers: Digital transformation leaders, AI specialists, e-commerce strategists.

Key Topics:

• The role of AI and technology in shaping creative careers.
• Building a strong online presence and managing e-commerce.
• Future trends and skill development.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in speaking at one of our sessions, please send a brief proposal including:

• Your name, bio, and relevant experience.
• The session(s) you would like to speak at.
• A short summary of your proposed talk (250 words max).
• Your proposed fee for the session.  Please note the max. budget for each session is based on ½ days work i.e. €450-€550 per session.

The sessions will be scheduled mid-morning in locations in County Carlow. The sessions will be 3 hours in duration , 2 hours in a facilitated session where the speaker delivers 45 minutes of content and then the recording of a podcast element for future use.

Deadline for submissions: For more details or to submit your proposal e-mail enterprise@carlowcoco.ie

Queries to Stacey Phelan , EU Project Co-ordinator via e-mail above or by calling 059/9129783

Closing Date for Submissions is Friday 4^th April 2025.